Subhash K Jha (DNA; May 12, 2015)

The Deepika Padukone-Priyanka Chopra dance-off in Bajirao Mastani was somewhat uncharted territory for Remo D’Souza, who he is primarily known for his contemporary, urbane dances. Of course, he has some help from unexpected quarters.

Says Remo, “I was stumped when SLB asked me to do this earthy folk number. I wanted to know how he thought of me for this when I am identified with a far more urban choreography in numbers like Disco Deewane and Badtameez Dil. But he said the challenge was in making me discard my image and do something totally unexpected.” The dance-off isn’t a lavani, as is widely reported. “That misapprehension is because of the way the two wore their saris.”

And the help he got came from Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s cook, no less. “It is the lady he calls mausi, whose steps we borrowed. There’s a particularly hybridised step. We borrowed, then worked on it.”

He continues, “It turned into a fusion number, with elements that have never been seen before in a dance number. Both Deepika and Priyanka danced their hearts out. Priyanka has more energy, while Deepika is more graceful. But there was no sense of competition between them. That worked to my song’s advantage. They both contributed to making the number very special.”